Identification of Forensically Important Sarcophagid Flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) in China, Based on COI and 16S rDNA Gene Sequences*

Abstract

Insects attracted to cadavers may provide important indications of the postmortem interval (PMI). However, use of the flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae) for PMI estimation is limited as the species are often not morphologically distinct, especially as immatures. In this study, 23 forensically important flesh flies were collected from 13 locations in 10 Chinese provinces. Then, a 278-bp segment of the cytochrome oxidase subunits one (COI) gene and a 289-bp segment of the 16S rDNA gene of all specimens were successfully sequenced. Phylogenetic analysis of the sequenced segments showed that all sarcophagid specimens were properly assigned into four species (Boerttcherisca peregrina [Robineau-Desvoidy, 1830], Helicophagella melanura [Meigen, 1826], Parasarcophaga albiceps [Meigen, 1826], and Parasarcophaga dux [Thompson, 1869]) with relatively strong supporting values, thus indicating that the COI and 16S rDNA regions are suitable for identification of sarcophagid species. The difference between intraspecific threshold and interspecific divergence confirmed the potential of the two regions for sarcophagid species identification.

Sarcophaga (Liosarcophaga) dux (Diptera: Sarcophagidae): A flesh fly species of medical importance

“…Identification of forensically important sarcophagids from Egypt and China [ S. dux, Sarcophaga argyrostoma (Robineau-Desvoidy), Sarcophaga albiceps (Meigen) and Wohlfahrtia nuba (Wiedemann)] was potentially assessed by using partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase I and II genes [23]. In four Chinese sarcophagid species including S. dux , the 289-bp fragment of the mitochondrial 16S rDNA gene and the 278-bp fragment of the mitochondrial COI gene of DNA method can be used as a supplemental means for morphological method in identification [24]. The genetic characterization of three flesh fly species has been compared [ S. dux , S. argyrostoma (Robineau-Desvoidy) and L. ruficornis ] using allozyme and RAPD-PCR markers, which indicated a very close relationship between these species [25].…”

A 454 sequencing approach to dipteran mitochondrial genome research

“…Indeed, Cameron et al [3] conclude that mtgenomes are powerful datasets well-suited for studying deep divergences. In addition, mitochondrial genes have been utilized in forensic entomology, a discipline of forensic science where the information about insects is used in crime scene investigation, often to provide accurate identification of species being used to estimate post-mortem interval [4,5]. Unfortunately, the availability of complete mtgenomes for this group is sparse.…”

A large‐scale molecular phylogeny of flesh flies (Diptera: Sarcophagidae)

“…Better taxon sampling in papers of Kutty et al (), Jordaens et al () and Stamper et al () is a significant improvement, although these studies still contained less than 4% of the total number of known species of Sarcophagidae. Third, taxon sampling has a strong geographic bias reflecting the applied focus [Zehner et al , (Europe); Tan et al , (Malaysia); Guo et al , , 2012a,b (China); Meiklejohn et al , (Australia)]. Finally, frequently only short sequences are obtained because a major issue is the potential for identification through ‘barcoding’ (Wells et al , ; Zehner et al , ; Guo et al , , ; Jordaens et al , ).…”